How to Make a Ringtone from a Song or Audio Clip

Three simple steps

1. Get the audio as a file on your phone or computer.
2. Trim the clip you want to use. Keep it short, and start where the recognizable part begins.
3. Set it as your ringtone—it’s simple on Android and takes one extra step on iPhone.

Step 1: Get the audio

• A song you own as a file (MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG): ready to trim.
• Audio from one of your videos, like your child's laugh or a friend's catchphrase: extract it with Video to MP3.
• A WhatsApp voice message: export the audio from the app and convert it to MP3.

Music from streaming services is protected within their apps and can't be used as a file. Use music you've purchased as a file, your own recordings, or audio that's licensed for reuse.

Step 2: Trim the clip

1. Open Trim audio and select your file.
2. Listen and mark the start right where the recognizable part begins. If your ringtone starts with silence or a slow intro, you might miss the call.
3. Mark the end. Short ringtones work best; on iPhone, the practical limit is about 30 seconds.
4. Download the clip.

If the audio is quieter than other sounds on your phone, turn up its volume before setting it as your ringtone so you don't miss calls in noisy places.

Step 3: Set it up on Android

1. Save the trimmed MP3 to your phone (the Downloads folder works; some devices prefer the Ringtones folder).
2. Go to Settings › Sound & vibration › Phone ringtone (the path varies by manufacturer).
3. Look for an option to add a ringtone from your device, such as a + button, “From device,” or “Add ringtone.”
4. Select the file and confirm.

To set a ringtone for one person, open their contact in the Contacts app, tap Edit, and look for the Ringtone option.

Step 3: Set it up on iPhone

iPhone uses ringtones in the .m4r format and doesn't let you choose just any audio file directly. The easiest way without a computer is with GarageBand, Apple's free app:

1. Convert the clip to M4A (AAC) with Convert audio and save it in the Files app.
2. Open GarageBand, create a project (for example, with Audio Recorder), and switch to Tracks view.
3. Tap the Loop icon, go to Files, and drag the audio into a track.
4. Return to the project list, touch and hold the project, tap Share › Ringtone, name it, and export it.
5. Choose Use sound as to set it as your default ringtone or assign it to a contact. You can then find it under Settings › Sounds & Haptics › Ringtone.

If the audio is too long for a ringtone, GarageBand will let you know and offer to shorten it. That's why trimming it first helps.

Tips for a great ringtone

• Choose a clip with a strong start and consistent volume.
• Avoid songs with heavy bass: phone speakers don't reproduce it well, so the sound can seem muffled.
• Test it somewhere noisy, like outdoors, before you make it your ringtone.
• Set different ringtones for important contacts so you know who's calling without looking at your screen.

Ideas beyond music

• A family member’s voice: Record someone saying “Pick up, Grandma’s calling!” and use it as that contact’s ringtone.
• A gentler alarm: A calm clip that gradually gets louder can make waking up less jarring. On many devices, you can use the same file as your alarm sound in the Clock app.
• Medication reminder: A short recording of you saying the medication’s name can help if you often forget to take it.
• A discreet work ringtone: Choose a short, quiet sound that won’t disturb coworkers in quiet spaces.

To record a voice, use the Online Voice Recorder. It records in your browser and downloads as an MP3, ready to trim.

Frequently asked questions